W. Va. Code § 5A-1-10: General procurement provisions for state spending units.

(a) Unless this code specifically provides to the contrary, all spending units, whenever possible, shall base purchases for commodities and services on a competitive process and utilize available statewide contracts.

(b) The secretary shall issue a notice to cease and desist to any spending unit when the secretary has credible evidence that a spending unit has failed, whenever possible, to purchase commodities and services on a competitive basis or to use available statewide contracts. Failure to abide by such notice may result in penalties set forth in section seventeen, article three of this chapter.